Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor implied. If you could repeat previously discredited memes or steer the conversation into irrelevant, off topic discussions, it would be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous.

@Ahab 4:24pm — I suspect that a. Fox didn’t have the “A-team” working the holiday weekend (or the “B-team” for that matter), and b. Some poor intern probably gets the blame and what joking passes for his career is ruined.

@BR 4:45pm — Leaving aside the “Palin’s on top” joke (based on the video), the poll question never mentioned “nomination”:

“I’m going to read you the names of several individuals. Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one. If you’ve never heard of someone, please just say so. (RANDOMIZE)
SCALE: 1. Favorable 2. Unfavorable 3. (Can’t say) 4. Never heard of”

Yes, Obama has spent much more than anyone likes. But to compare his first-year spending to Bush and Clinton is like comparing the cost of housing maintenance for regular tenants versus housing maintenance when the last guy burned the house down on the way out the door.

Second, to compare the spending of Bush in year 1 versus Obama in year 1 is another joke. Let’s compare Bush year 4 and Obama year 1 since Obama year 1 is a continuation of Bush year 4.

I really hope that in the next 20 years we can get a new crop of media outlets to do their jobs and stop acting as propaganda machines for ideologues. Then maybe we can get a nice group of independent Presidential candidates who are interested in serving the People rather than special interests …

I passed a link to this thread to a friend, and his email reply is just too funny not to share…

A pie chart? a PIE chart? a pie Chart! …

Give me a minute, my mind is still reeling.

This is a work of genius. The simple expression of the most colossal stupidity. Three pie pieces shouting to the world, “Look world! Behold the vastness of ignorance!” That piece of art belongs in a museum.

I just know some arrogant asshole looked at the bar graph and said, “pie charts look better on TV.” Reply, “Good idea boss.”

It seems the graph came from a local station in Chicago, home town of the smartest American president ever. Given the voting record in that town, a pie graph adding up to more than 100% would not be unusual.

I’ve been wondering .. those book signing lines – how many people are suppling books that were paid for by free coupons on up to full price and beyond*. That would be a nice pie chart (done right – ie round pie is no more than 100%).

* Beyond — meaning wondering in the same breath – how many are looking to Ebay the signed book? Ty Beanie Babies aren’t re-selling like they were hyped. State Coin Bears – the new fad (saw at a garage sale this summer). I’ve got Nanook husky, Peace bear** and Unicorn on the shelf here at the castle. Someday I’ll trade ‘em for an Amero or two, maybe a smidgen of gold.

Thanks for the link of Columbus, Ohio signing 11/20/09. Wondering where in the pyramid of intellect – who is saying “yes” to & “no” to these camera interview things … who the editors cut out for flavor … I could understand the “no thank you” folks (for many reasons) would be higher in the pryamid … all that said – reminds me of my Kmart bar code scene … we got our work cut out for us here in the good ole USA – for all colors and flavors.**

At least Fox News is covering the crime of the century, a group of left-wingers and greedy environmentalists defrauding the world — Climategate scandal — at the same time as biased liberal US media (CNN, ABC, NBC, etc.) is intentionally not covering Climategate.

It just proves again and again how biased and politically motivated US media is.

The entire world is covering Climategate (fraud of the century), but US media (except FOX News) is intentionally silent about it.

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About Barry Ritholtz

Ritholtz has been observing capital markets with a critical eye for 20 years. With a background in math & sciences and a law school degree, he is not your typical Wall St. persona. He left Law for Finance, working as a trader, researcher and strategist before graduating to asset managementRead More...

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"The largest Asian central banks have gone on record that they are curbing their purchases of US debt. And they are also diversifying their huge reserves, steadily moving away from the dollar. The risks have simply become too many and too serious." -W. Joseph StroupeEditor, Global Events

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